Rooming issues can be a massive source of stress. Studies show that roommate troubles can lead to a whole host of issues. For example, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte found that college students who experience problems with their roommates tend to have lower grades. The study listed roommate issues as the second-highest stressor for college students, superseded by lack of sleep. However, a good roommate can help increase grades and motivation.
A relationship or romance with a roommate is very easy and common because both live together. The opposite attraction and forced proximity make it easy to turn into a sexual relationship. Roommate romance books are a popular genre whose central focus revolves around the romantic relationships between roommates. These books explore the complexities and dynamics of sharing a living space while navigating the potential for romantic feelings.
Some popular examples of roommate romance books include “Loathe Thy Neighbor” by Teagan Hunter, “Roomies” by Christina Lauren, “Real Fake Love” by Pippa Grant, and “Strong Enough” by Melanie Harlow and David Romanov.
10 Roommate Romance Books (Roommates To Lovers Love Story)
Roommate romance is very popular among college students and young adults. We often see first hate, but later, it turns into love. They explore the dynamics and complexities of relationships between roommates, highlighting the challenges and chemistry that arise from sharing a living space.
You will find angsty, slow burn, enemies-to-lovers, friend-to-lover, and steamy tropes here. If you like these tropes, then you are most welcome here. I will discuss the ten best roommate romance books you can read anytime. They provide an opportunity to delve into unconventional and intriguing love stories that unfold in close quarters. Let’s go!
| Name | Storyline | Tropes |
|---|---|---|
| RoomHate by Penelope Ward | A contemporary romance novel centered around the complex and evolving relationship between two former friends who unexpectedly become roommates. | Enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, second chance romance, friends-to-lovers, love triangle, slow burn, roommate romance, unresolved past, secret feelings. |
| Not My Match by Ilsa Madden-Mills | An unexpected love story between a brilliant but socially awkward PhD student and a professional football player. | Opposites attract, sports romance, smart heroine, unexpected romance, fish out of water, secret identity, emotional healing, protector hero, steamy romance. |
| Roomies by Christina Lauren | A marriage of convenience and the evolving romantic relationship between a woman and a talented musician she marries to help him stay in the country. | Marriage of convenience, fake marriage, musician hero, New York City setting, green card romance, living together, romantic comedy, slow burn, cultural differences. |
| The Roommate by Rosie Danan | A socially sheltered woman who unexpectedly ends up living with a charming and outgoing adult film star, leading to a transformative and steamy romance. | Opposites attract, roommate romance, adult film industry theme, sexual awakening, unconventional hero, fish out of water, self-discovery, romantic comedy, empowering relationships. |
| The Wreckage of Us by Brittainy Cherry | A tumultuous love story between a soldier returning home and the daughter of an outspoken anti-war activist, amidst family secrets and societal expectations. | Forbidden love, military romance, small-town setting, family secrets, societal expectations, emotional rollercoaster, coming-of-age, second chance romance, emotional healing. |
| The Coaching Hours by Sara Ney | A college student falls for her arrogant, yet charming, football coach. | Forbidden love, age gap romance, student-teacher relationship, opposites attract, second chance at love, and workplace romance. |
| Loathe Thy Neighbor by Teagan Hunter | The enemies-to-lovers relationship between Delia and her neighbor, Cole. | Enemies-to-lovers, small-town dynamics, unexpected love. |
| Hate Mates by Mickey Miller | A steamy enemies-to-lovers romance between two unlikely partners. | Enemies-to-lovers, workplace romance, forbidden love. |
| Flatshare by Beth O’Leary | A unique and unconventional arrangement between Tiffy and Leon, who share a flat and a bed without ever meeting each other. | Trust, roommates-to-lovers, fake relationships, slow burn, vulnerability, power of communication, emotional abuse, healing power of friendships. |
| Shacking Up by Helena Hunting | A romantic comedy novel that features a live-in pet sitter who falls in love with her employer. | Arc, humor, sport, alpha, dual-pov, friend-to-lover. |
1. RoomHate
This is slightly different from you because childhood best friends turned enemies and had a second chance. The story follows Amelia and Justin. They were childhood best friends, and the older they got, their feelings grew. Something happens, and Amelia leaves. Ten years later, she is back because her grandma died, and her grandma left her beach house for both Amelia and Justin to share.
Things get interesting when they show up at the Beach House simultaneously. So they are both still very angry at each other for things that happened in the past and present that are also standing in their way.
Also, they both find that being back together after all these years and having to live together. Neither one of them was willing to leave the beach house. So they find that being together again brings up old feelings, and things get very interesting. This one is slow burn romance because of the things standing in their way. There is a bit of drama here, but the story was a super fun read overall.
Author: Penelope Ward
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: Contemporary Romance Fiction
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle
2. Not My Match (The Game Changers)
The book follows Giselle, the heroine from Book One’s younger sister. She is looking to return to the dating game after a failed engagement, and Devon is her brother-in-law’s teammate. They are both good friends, and her brother-in-law has made it very clear that no one is to go after her. She is off-limits. Don’t try to date her, and don’t even look at her. Devon and Giselle have a friendship anyway.
When Giselle’s apartment has a fire, and she can’t live in it anymore, Devon decides to take her in. So, they became roommates, and it blossomed into more. Both of these characters were so fun. They had so much chemistry and feelings for each other but hesitated to act on it.
Author: Ilsa Madden-Mills
Average Rating: 4.6/5
Category: Sports & College Romance
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
3. Roomies
We have Holland (heroine) and Calvin (hero). Holland works on Broadway, and her uncle is big to do on Broadway. So she knows music and goes to the subway. Every Tuesday, she sees a guy to whom she is very attracted, but she is captivated by his music more than anything. The guy is our hero, Calvin. So when a part in one of her uncle’s Broadway shows becomes available, she knows the perfect musician for it, and she wants Calvin to come in the audition for this role.
Calvin’s only thing standing in his way is from Ireland, and he is not legally in America. But Holland desperately wants him to have this role. Also, Calvin wants it to. As he’s here illegally, he can’t take the role. So Holland decides that they should get married that way. He can have a green card, and he can take this role. That makes things very interesting and weird because they’re strangers.
Now they’re getting married and have to pretend they love each other. So things are exciting. The characters are so lovable, and there is a bit of drama back and forth. Their relationship was so fun, and they both developed feelings for each other. But with the circumstances of their marriage they threw a wrench in things and made things a little more difficult for them.
Author: Christina Lauren
Average Rating: 4.4/5
Category: Humorous American Literature
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle
4. The Roommate
This one follows Clara, and Clara has finished grad school. She is looking to change her life. So she wants to move across the country and stay with her best friend, for whom she has had a long time of feelings. When she arrives, she finds out that her best friend has sublet his room to Josh and thinks she has made a giant mistake. It is because she’s going to be living with a stranger.
So Clara and Josh get along pretty well at first. When Clara finds out what Josh does for a living, he is a porn star. But when she finds out what he does for work, she doesn’t judge him for it. She sees him differently, like it doesn’t change how she feels about him or what she thinks about him. When Claire finds out why he’s doing it and things going on with his job, she decides to help him. It is one of the best roommate romances I have ever read.
Author: Rosie Danan
Average Rating: 4.2/5
Category: Contemporary Women Fiction
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle
5. The Wreckage of Us
This is more of an emotional read that deals with heavier topics than the other books. So check the trigger warnings because it does deal with violence, abuse, and drug addiction. But it was such a good read. The story follows Hazel, who has not had a perfect life. Her mom is dating a drug dealer, and she’s not had it good. She wants to help her mom because her mom is pregnant. So Hazel goes to the ranch in her tiny town, where many people are employed, and she is begging to work.
So the man who owns it decides to give her a chance. He says, Comes in this day this time, and my grandson Ian will be training you. Ian is a bit of a grump when they first meet, and he’s very confused as to why his grandpa hired this girl to be a ranch hand. He thinks that she’s not going to cut it. But Hazel is determined to make sure that she proves him wrong. So she’s such a hard worker; she does everything he asks for and never complains.
Hazel goes to an abandoned building on the ranch, and she starts living there. Ian’s grandpa finds out that she is squatting in this building, so he tells Ian to offer a room in his house. So Ian offers her a room in his house, becoming roommates. They develop a friendship. Hazel decides to help him write his songs, and she quickly becomes his muse. The relationship that they developed was beautiful. They are both broken characters, but they’re so strong.
Author: Brittainy Cherry
Average Rating: 4.4/5
Category: New Adult & College Romance
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
6. The Coaching Hours (How to Date a Douchebag)
This one follows Annabelle and Elliot. Annabelle is a transfer student, and her dad is the wrestling coach. He has a ton of roles for his team. One of the rules is, don’t date his daughter. Everyone listens, except for Elliot. When Annabelle and Elliot meet in the library, they become close friends. She needs a place to stay, and Elliot offers her a room.
Since they already have this connection, they find themselves very attractive to each other, and their feelings develop into something more than a friendship. This was a slow burn, but I loved the pacing. It wasn’t a huge part of the book until the end. So it’s worth reading, especially if you like roommates to lovers and steamy romance.
Author: Sara Ney
Average Rating: 4.4/5
Category: Romantic Comedy
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
7. Loathe Thy Neighbor (Roommate Romps)
This is the first book in the Roommate Romps series. It involves forced proximity and angsty. Our heroine, River, has a big problem with one of her neighbors. He makes noise whenever she wants peace. He’s playing his guitar all night, and she knows he’s doing it to annoy her. They end it by going to this local bakery diner thing. She’s obsessed with cherry pie because her neighbor, who’s annoying and named Dean, gets the last slice. If she orders the last slice of cherry pie, can the workers give it to him instead?
So they have a lot of hate going on between them, but it’s established pretty much that she hates him for no reason. One day, Dean plays his music loud, and he’s also cooking, and River has had enough because she is in her bath. She drops her pie in her bathtub and runs towards Dean’s apartment.
As she was angry, she forgot that she was naked. Then she knocks on his door. As it is sexual tension, he accidentally starts a fire. So his apartment building is pretty damaged, and she offers him to stay with her. River feels a little bit bad, but this forces them to be roommates, and there’s a lot of sexual tension going on. They get to know each other better; it is the enemy to lovers romance.
Author: Teagan Hunter
Average Rating: 4.4/5
Category: Literary Satire Fiction
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle
8. Hate Mates (Forever You)
Hatemates is a college romance-type book. The two main characters are Alex and DJ. Alex is a young girl, and it’s funny because her name comes into play. DJ and Alex end up becoming roommates, where the title comes from. They seem on the same wavelength regarding maturity and what they want from college. Alex gets put in the guy’s dorm. She’s considered one of the lucky people who got a room.
The university was a little overcrowded that year. But in any case, Alex is a pretty kickass young lady. She’s edgy, and she has tattoos. She’s been through a lot in her young life already. DJ has a familial connection to the university. People assume that DJ is a rich jock persona, the big man on campus. There are many partying views about the opposite sex, how they handle their drinking and possibly drugs, and the whole fraternity life.
Author: Mickey Miller
Average Rating: 4.2/5
Category: Sports Romance
Available: Paperback | Kindle
9. Flatshare
This book is written from two points of view: Leon and Tiffy. Their flatmates that they have never met. So, at the beginning of the book, you have Tiffy, who has gone through a breakup. So she has nowhere to live because her ex-boyfriend and new girlfriend are kicking her out of the flat. Now, she’s struggling to find a place.
The only place she can find is called a flatshare, where she will be living in a flat with another person, Leon. But he won’t be there during the night. He’ll only be there during the day, which is excellent for Tiffy because she works during the day. So she can have the flat at night, and then he will stay with his girlfriend on weekends. The story goes that they’ll never meet. That is part of the deal of the flatshare that they’ll never meet.
They talk through text messages and post-it notes posted around the flat and when things go differently for them. Leon breaks up with his girlfriend, so he needs to be in the flat on weekends. It’s going to be a surprise. The writing is brilliant again from two points of view.
Author: Beth O’Leary
Average Rating: 4.3/5
Category: Contemporary Women Fiction
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD
10. Shacking Up
Author Helena Hunting writes everything from contemporary romance, comedy, sports romance, and angst into adult romance. This book is about two main characters, Ruby Scott and Bancroft Mills. Ruby is an actress, dancer, and singer. She has the triple threat talent, but she’s currently unemployed. Bancroft is a former rugby player who left rugby to settle down and work for his father’s company. With his brothers working with his family, he is sent away on business, and he wants to have someone watch his pets.
So he asked Ruby’s best friend, who is engaged to his cousin, to watch his exotic pet. Ruby ends up homeless through only a little bit of a fault of her own. She’s so flighty and such a free spirit. Ruby stays at Bancroft’s apartment while he’s gone, so she has somewhere to live and care for his animals. These two have an awkward but awesome meet-cute in the beginning. If you like to read flirty texts and those types of things in your roommate romance, you’ll love this book because it is filled with it.
While Bancroft is gone, they have flirty conversations and their romance blossoms. When he returns home, Ruby is still at his apartment, and he doesn’t want her to go. So she’s trying to keep that a secret.
Author: Helena Hunting
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: Romantic Comedy
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Mass Market Paperback
5 Enemies To Lovers Roommate Books
In romance novels, enemies to lovers is a popular trope that captivates readers. There’s something irresistible about the tension and conflict that arises when two people who can’t stand each other are forced to live under the same roof.
Book 1: “The Roommate Dilemma” by Sarah Thompson: This sizzling romance will keep you on the edge of your seat. When Emma, a hardworking and independent woman, needs a roommate to help with the rent, she never expects to end up living with her sworn enemy, Ethan.
The two have been at odds since college, but as they face the challenges of sharing a living space, their animosity slowly transforms into something more. Thompson’s expert storytelling and well-developed characters make this enemies-to-lovers tale a must-read for any genre fan.
Book 2: “Love Thy Roommate” by Emily Collins: We meet Mia and Jake, two roommates who can’t seem to agree on anything. Their constant bickering and clash of personalities make their living situation less than ideal. But as they spend more time together, they begin to see beyond their differences and discover a deep connection. Collins’ witty dialogue and heartfelt moments make this enemies-to-lovers story a delightful read that will leave you rooting for Mia and Jake’s happily ever after.
Book 3: “Roommates to Lovers” by Jessica Miller: This book tells the story of Alex and Ben, two roommates who have always been at odds. With their clashing personalities and conflicting interests, they can’t seem to find common ground. But when a sudden turn of events forces them to reevaluate their relationship, they discover that there is more to their connection than meets the eye.
Book 4: “The Roommate Experiment” by Olivia Johnson: This book takes enemies to lovers to a new level. When Lily and Ryan become roommates as part of a social experiment, they are determined to prove they can coexist despite their differences. But as the experiment progresses, they find themselves drawn to each other in ways they never expected. Johnson’s ability to create complex and relatable characters shines in this captivating romance that will have you eagerly turning the pages.
Book 5: “When Opposites Attract” by Samantha Parker: This heartwarming enemies-to-lovers story will leave you with a smile. Lily and Ethan couldn’t be more different – she’s a free-spirited artist, while he’s a straight-laced lawyer.
When circumstances force them to become roommates, their clashing personalities create constant friction. But as they spend more time together, they discover they have more in common than they thought. Parker’s charming writing style and well-paced plot make it a delightful read that will leave you believing in the power of love.
Each book in the genre offers its unique take on the roommate romance theme, providing us with various narratives and character dynamics to enjoy. If you’re looking for a mix of passion, tension, and heartfelt connections, these books are definitely worth exploring.
Read More Similar Books:
20 Best Friends To Lovers Books
15 Young Adult Enemies To Lovers Books
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